The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Warren County

1/22/26, Front Royal- Skyline hosts cross-town rival Warren County in tonight’s Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill with varsity boys basketball coverage starting around 7:15 pm for the estimated 7:30 pm tip-off on Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app.

The schools faced-off in our first broadcast of the season which saw Skyline win 73-60, but both teams have grown tremendously since the opening matchup.

Following the loss, Warren County has won seven of their last ten and are on pace for the program’s best season in over 10 years.

Coach Mario Gil has helped build up the Cats from a team that had won 8 games over the previous two years and a 6-17 season in year 1 to their current record of 9-6.

The next step to prove the tides are shifting for Warren County would be to knock-off Skyline which has maintained a decisive the edge on the hardwood through the entirety of Coach Harold Chunn’s tenure and years prior.

Warren County is led by the trio of Bryce Bergmann (6’3″), Adrian Craig (6’2″), and Ethan Bare (6’4″) and their length could cause problems for a smaller Skyline team.

While lacking a Marlon Jackson or Dwayne Tucker in the post, Skyline still holds all of the talent needed to make another run at the Region 3B Championship and beyond.

The Hawks are coming off a road loss to Region 3B favorite Meridian but had previously won four of the last five.

Skyline has a deep roster with scorers at all levels and athletes who play bigger than listed like Zayden Burks, Andre Ford, and Cameron Kerns.

Led by Ford with 18, all three reached double figures in the first matchup with Warren County, but it took a third quarter surge to separate from the Cats.

While Warren County may have been happy to hang with Skyline early in the first matchup, the newly confident Wildcats will want to finish the job this time.

Seniors Kerns, Ford, and Day-Shawn Haley will refuse to leave the court against Warren County for (most likely) the final time as losers, and I look for the Hawks to feed off the home crowd and find a way to win in the closest matchup in recent years, Skyline 54-Warren County 52.

For more local sports coverage, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

For Josh Kirby’s interviews with coaches Mario Gill and Harold Chunn, click here.

Sports Dogs Podcast: NFL, CFP, and debut of “The Three Pointer”

The Dogs have a full bowl in this edition, with NFL coaching firings and hirings, a great Wild Card Weekend, and a new feature, “The Three-Pointer,” as we discuss some local high school hoops happenings.

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To listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Warren County vs Skyline

12/12/25, Front Royal, VA- Warren County boys basketball hosts Skyline in tonight’s Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill on Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at roughly 7 pm following the conclusion of the JV matchup.

The hardwood edition of the River Rivalry will feature two teams still looking to find their footing in the early stages of the season.

Skyline had a late start to the season due to the most successful football season in school history, but as Vince Lombardi said, “Winning is a habit”.

The Hawks basketball roster features many of the same stand-out athletes as the Region Runner-Up football team including the top running back in Virginia Zayden Burks, All Region Linebacker Andre Ford, All Region QB Day’Shawn Haley, and a few others.

After the long post season, the Hawks came out a bit rusty against Fauquier before surging past the Falcons in overtime.

Skyline needed to overcome a 12 point 4th quarter deficit to secure the win.

Andre Ford’s 11 point 4th quarter and Cameron Kerns 6 point overtime period led the way for a comeback in the Hawks lone game.

Warren County has already played four regular season games and look to have taken a step forward in their second year under Head Coach Mario Gill.

The Wildcats are 2-2 with wins over Kettle Run and Liberty, two teams they went a combined 1-3 against last year.

Warren County returns last year’s leader in scoring, rebounding, and steals in 6’4″ Ethan Bare, the leader in assists and 3p% Adrian Craig, and 6’3″ guard Bryce Bergmann.

Freshman Makari Robinson stood out as a wide receiver for Warren County.

His athleticism and 6’3″ frame should transition nicely to the hardwood.

Skyline has a few exciting additions as well including former JV standout Mark Jefferies.

While both teams are still coming together in the early stages of the season, Warren County’s four regular season games together and confidence found after a few wins should help them battle against a Skyline team that has had their number in recent years.

Skyline has already shown in their lone game, they know when it’s time to lock-in and play ball like they did in the 4th quarter and OT against Fauquier.

The Hawks won’t need the nudge of 12 point deficit to show some fire against a cross-town rival and I look for them to come out with their signature defensive pressure to force the Cats into some early mistakes.

Hawks will start to pull away late, but don’t be surprised to see this game tied-up at halftime, Skyline 55-Warren County 45.

For an interview with WCHS Coach Mario Gill from Josh Kirby, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Warren County

Skyline (10-2) heads across Front Royal to take on Warren County (3-10) in tonight’s Van Metre Homes High School Basketball Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app.

Skyline defeated Warren County in their first matchup this season, 75-46.

Dwayne Tucker dominated in that game, leading all scorers with 18 points including a tone setting dunk in the first quarter.

The Hawks tough defense allowed their season average of just 46 points, the 5th best scoring defense in Virginia, and the offense produced just above their season average of 72 ppg, the 6th best in Virginia (Rankings according to novahoops.com).

Skyline entered the previous matchup after their first loss of the season and will come out motivated once again after their second loss this year to undefeated Meridian on a buzzer beater three pointer, 57-54.

Warren County has a young roster with no seniors and has struggled under first year coach Mario Gill, but are laying the ground work for a strong future.

In the previous matchup vs Skyline, 6’4″ junior Ethan Bare led the game with 13 rebounds to go with 13 points and freshman Jaycob Robinson stepped up with 11 points in just his 3rd varsity start, but turnovers piled up quickly for the Cats leading to a 16 point deficit through the first period.

The Wildcats have to do a better job maintaining possession against the Hawks defensive pressure to hang in this rivalry game tonight.

That is easier said than done and I predict Skyline will extend their winning streak over Warren County in boys basketball to #13 with a few more electric dunks along the way, 75-55.

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Warren County

Tonight’s High School Basketball Game of the Week features cross-town rivals Warren County (0-2) and Skyline (2-1) on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at 7:15 pm for the 7:30 pm tip.

Skyline will look to regroup after a surprising 56-42 loss to Fauquier on Wednesday.

Fauquier has improved recently and closed out last season winning 6 of their last 8 while winning their first three games this season, but with all of the returning talent at Skyline, this was a game the Hawks should have won.

In Skyline’s season opener against Millbrook, the Hawks claimed a win but did not look as fluid offensively or defensively as recent years.

Dwayne Tucker faced early foul trouble which may have forced the defense out of their traditionally aggressive nature, but with Skyline’s depth, they were able to maintain a lead for the majority of the game.

The Hawks showed their trademark defense against Clarke County in the second win of the season and forced 23 turnovers to end Clarke County’s 12 game home win streak.

Skyline will need to bring their A game against Warren County tonight as the Wildcats have battled in their first two games under Coach Mario Gill.

Coach Gill brings with him local coaching experience as an assistant at Sherando under Garland Williams and at Frederick Community College.

As a player, he was a first team All-State selection in Oregon and played in Junior College and Division II University of Alaska- Anchorage.

While the Cats enter winless, they have competed and kept themselves in ball games through their first two outings.

Key returners include sophomore Bryce Bergmann and junior Ethan Bare, who both look to have taken another step forward this offseason.

The duo will likely take turns leading Warren County in scoring and that has been the case so far with Bare contributing 21 points and 13 rebounds in game 1 while Bergmann scored 17 in game 2.

I predict Skyline will have a “get-right game” against Warren County in front of a packed Andrew Keller Court to get back to their winning ways, 86-65.

Warren County may be able to hang with Skyline early, but the Hawks will pull away late and throwdown a few dunks along the way.

Check back on Saturday for The Duke’s State Championship Preview as Strasburg takes on Graham in Salem!